Detection and characterisation of threats or illegal/ smuggled goods in cargo

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes: Increased security of air, maritime, land, or postal transport, cargo and supply chain; Address accidental or intentional explosions, fires, noxious chemicals, material degradation, or autonomous threats in cargo; Enhanced capabilities to detect, characterise, track and trace, and seize dangerous, regulated, illicit devices, goods , or material; Increased mobility of the customs authorities’ resources and equipment and improved agility for a faster and more coordinated response; Interoperability of customs control equipment and interconnectivity with other systems, including integration of logistical operations, and/or increased inter-agency and cross border collaboration. Scope: Today’s global economy and high-volume trade flows require much and fast transport to deliver products worldwide. Traders and consumers expect quick and easy transactions, while customs administrations face the challenge of controlling the goods without disrupting their flow. This is exploited by organised crime and terrorist organisations, which take advantage of the large amount of goods to conceal threats or illegal and/or dangerous materials in legal commercial cargo, with the aim of causing damage, disruption, or of it illegally crossing borders unnoticed. Customs authorities must ensure a high level of compliance with both security and revenue objectives: trafficked materials may represent a threat, and undetected smuggled licit materials entering the EU deprive the Member States of the revenue due if the material had been legally traded. In addition, illegal trafficking can have an impact in the environment (such as biodiversity loss or deforestation) or for the EU citizens’ safety and health. The air and maritime cargo contexts present security challenges as well as high potential consequences of threats, primarily but not limited to explosives and incendiary devices. Air cargo can represent continuity assurances to cope, at least in the short term and for critical lines, with supply chain and/or distribution crises; while maritime cargo remains the most common transport mode in global trade. The risk for well-concealed materials not being detected during screening, or the risk of concealment during the supply chain is pressing. Logistical hubs also need to strengthen their capabilities to adapt to sudden changes, and customs authorities need to mobilise their available resources to ensure efficient and fast controls. The need for better mobility and improved a…